With pre-season friendlies in full swing and the league action kicking off this month, Dulwich Hamlet have revealed glorious new kit designs to see us smartly through the season. In true Hamlet fashion this is more than just a football strip – it’s geographic art, celebrating… Hills.
Our part of the capital is home to many of its finest hills and in recent seasons fans and players at the club have begun to celebrate these hills in song. A call-and-response chant which lists much loved hills such as Denmark, Herne, Forest and of course, Champion, has become a regular part of post-match celebrations.
The new kit designs, for home, away, and goalkeepers, include a contour map of the hills of south London, created with the data used by Ordnance Survey. It’s described as a football shirt, a geographic educational device, and a method for finding your way home after a match!
The hills themselves are listed on the cuffs, and the latitude and longitude of the Champion Hill centre spot is marked on the back, so there’s no excuse for players losing their way in midfield! And you can always find your way to the heart of the action.
Sure to become a collectors’ item, our teams will be sporting these remarkable strips in the remaining pre-season friendlies this month. Millwall Under 21s visit Champion Hill on Saturday 3 August to take on our men, while Crystal Palace Under 21s visit on Sunday 11th to play our women’s first team. Once the season’s underway replica shirts will of course be available in our club shop in the Mega Container on match days and online at dhst.org.uk/clubshop
The season proper starts in mid-August, with fixture lists available on the club site at dulwichhamlet.co.uk and season tickets on sale now. For our women’s first XI in particular it’s a momentous first step into the National League system, and the season opener is one to savour as Norwich City visits Champion Hill on Sunday 18 August. While following the men will continue to offer plenty of time beside the seaside, with trips to Bognor, Canvey Island, Folkestone, Hastings, and Whitehawk.
This season also marks the centenary of the very first match against our great friends at Altona 93 in Hamburg and the away kit for this season, also including the hills map, shares the Altona colours of red, black and white. Look out for news of fundraising for the Altona centenary tour next summer.
As the new season gets going there’s plenty of opportunity to get involved at DHFC. Please consider joining the Supporters’ Trust – the voice of our fans at the heart of our community – and we’re always looking for volunteers to help make the match day experience at Champion Hill so cracking. In the meantime, it’s hills, hills, hills, hills…
dulwichhamletfc.co.uk @DulwichHamletFC dhst.org.uk
Pic credit: Rob Avis.